works because an array evaluates to the number of elements it contains in a scalar context. Assigning to a scalar (as you do above) provides a scalar context to the right hand side (RHS). So the array is evaluated in this scalar context, giving the length, which the assignment then puts into your '$asize' variable.

Why did I bother spelling this out in a long-winded way? Because it is useful to understand what it going on. For example, I usually write the above as:

The 'scalar' keyword supplies a scalar context to its argument and gives the result of the evaluation. It is redundant in the above example (because we already have a scalar context from the assignment to the scalar).

So why do I write it like that? Because:

It is an explicit statement of what I am doing. I consider that more readable.

I can use the same syntax every place I need an array size. Look at the following:

I *need* to use the scalar keyword here, because otherwise the 'print' command gives a list context to the array, which lists all the elements instead of giving the size.

Since I sometimes get cut-and-paste happy, it is nice to have code which is explicit about what context it wants.

And I'll conclude this overly-pedantic missive to state that you should look into using 'use strict' and '#!... -w', to force you into good habits. (Heh...habits! Monks! How funny is that!? (Hrrrm...the first couple of million times were probably worth chuckling at, but thats about it))

When putting a smiley right before a closing parenthesis, do you:

Use two parentheses: (Like this: :) )
Use one parenthesis: (Like this: :)
Reverse direction of the smiley: (Like this: (: )
Use angle/square brackets instead of parentheses
Use C-style commenting to set the smiley off from the closing parenthesis
Make the smiley a dunce: (:>
I disapprove of emoticons
Other